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Germany and the United Nations

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Federal Republic of Germany
United Nations membership
MembershipFull member
Since1973 (1973)
UNSC seatNon-permanent
AmbassadorHarald Braun
German Democratic Republic
United Nations membership
MembershipFormer full member
Dates1973 (1973) – 1990 (1990)
UNSC seatNon-permanent (elected once)

The relationship of Germany and the United Nations first began during World War II. The United Nations then was synonymous with the Allies of World War II and Germany then being the Greater German Reich, a member of the Axis powers. With the war ending in the defeat of Germany, the country's territory was divided amongst the victors and what was to remain Germany was under Allied administration. In 1949, two new countries were created in these occupied territories: the Federal Republic of Germany in May and the German Democratic Republic in October.

Both Germanys were admitted as full members of the United Nations (UN) on 18 September 1973. The two countries eventually merged on 3 October 1990, signifying an end of the Cold war era. Today, Germany is the third largest contributor to the UN budget, after the United States and Japan, with 190 million US dollars, or roughly 8% of the UN budget for the 2010-11 biennial budget.[1]

History

Hoisting of the two German flags outside the UN building in New York on 18 September 1973
Flags of the two Germanys at the United Nations in 1973

The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was admitted to the UN as an observer in 1955. The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was admitted as an observer in 1972.[2] On 18 September 1973 both were admitted as full members by the United Nations General Assembly, following the recommendation of the Security Council by Resolution 335 on 22 June 1973. Through the accession of the German Democratic Republic to the Federal Republic of Germany, it was effective on 3 October 1990. The territory of the German Democratic Republic became part of the Federal Republic of Germany, today simply known as Germany. Consequently, the Federal Republic of Germany continued being a member of the UN while the German Democratic Republic ceased to exist.[3]

2011-2012 UNSC seat

For the years of 2011 to 2012 Germany has been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, Germany received criticism from its European and US allies for abstaining on the Libyan no-fly zone resolution that they were voting for. Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer argued that "Germany has lost its credibility in the United Nations and in the Middle East. German hopes for a permanent seat on the Security Council have been permanently dashed and one is now fearful of Europe's future."[4][5]

Permanent UNSC seat

Further information: Reform of the United Nations Security Council

France and the United Kingdom have explicitly called for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council for their close EU partner.[6][7] French president Jacques Chirac said in a speech in Berlin in 2000 that "Germany's engagement, its ranking as a great power, its international influence—France would like to see them recognized with a permanent seat on the Security Council".[8] The former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, also identified Russia, among other countries, as a country that backed Germany's bid.[9] Italy and the Netherlands on the contrary, suggest a common European Union (EU) seat in the Council instead of Germany becoming the third European member next to France and the UK. The former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that Germany would also accept a common European seat, but as long as there is little sign that France and the UK will give up their own seats; Germany should also have a seat.[9] Thus, the German campaign for a permanent seat was intensified in 2004. Schröder made himself perfectly clear in August 2004: "Germany has the right to a seat."[10] Its bid is supported by Japan, India, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom and Russia, among other countries. Current German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who had initially been quiet on the issue, re-stated Germany's bid in her address to the UN General Assembly in September 2007. In July 2011, Merkel's trip to Kenya, Angola, and Nigeria was thought to be motivated, in part, by the goal of seeking support from African countries for Germany's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Germany's financial contributions to the United Nations, German Federal Foreign Office
  2. ^ Osmańczyk, Jan (2003). Mango, Anthony (ed.). Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements. Vol. 2: G–M (3rd ed.). Routledge. ISBN 0-415-93920-8.
  3. ^ "Yearbook of the United Nations". United Nations.
  4. ^ Fischer Joins Criticism of German Security Council Abstention, Spiegel Online
  5. ^ Germany has marginalised itself over Libya, The Guardian
  6. ^ "Joint UK-France Summit Declaration". British Prime Minister’s Office. 27 March 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  7. ^ "Speech: "Together, we've spent 70 years striving for peace, 70 years helping the poorest and most vulnerable"". UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. ^ "Chirac pushes two-speed Europe". BBC News. 2000-06-27.
  9. ^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20071012131441/http://voanews.com/english/2006-11-01-voa46.cfm. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Germany Hopes for UN Security Council Seat Dampened", Deutsche Welle, 20 August 2004. Retrieved 14 May 2006.
  11. ^ Allan Odhiambo (2011-07-13). "Germany shops for UN seat, business in Africa visit". Business Daily. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
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